The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-18

himself to that effect through the col
umns OF his paper. In all OF these al
ticles he was particularly severe OF
Hamilton, whs was and had been 10
years the head and front Of what wa
termed the penitentiary ring. Tina
Legislature had passed the local Oh
ton law, and every county which
wanted prohibition could hold an cleo
ton and vote on the subject. Tn,
campaign which was waged in Hind
county between the prohibitionist sut
anti.prohibitionist In the Angus
following was q very bitter snt
hard fought one. Hamilton wa
the chairman OF the anti-prohibitior
campaign committee. Young Gam
brell enlisted all his energies In ths
canvass, during which he paid his re
spects to Hamilton in terms severe and
personal, reiteratipg the penitentiary
charges. The election resulted In ar
overwhelming msjority for the Pro
hibit.opists, and young Gambrell had
cause for self congrstulation. Fol
come time afterward the scsthina
charges OF Gsmbrell, that Hamilton
was not only defaulter TO the State
in the sum OF $50, 100, but that he was
alec respor sible for the inhuman treat.
ment Of the convicts Of which he had
control by virtue OF his lease, ceased
to appear in his paper.
When In April the card appeared In
the Clarion, suggesting that Hamilton
should again become q candidate for
the State Senate, II was then that Gam.
brell wrote the editorial, one
OF the last he ever wrote, and
which directly caused his death.
The severity Of the language used and
the unstinted Characterization OF Ham.
ilton, as all that was dishonorabls and
despica5le, caused considerable excite
ment, aud those who knew Hamilton
to be man Of spirit and cogn ISN'T OF
what bad preceded this final attack,
were confident that he would kill
Gambrell. The articled appeared on
April 30th. Gsmbrell, fully aware OF
the gravity Of his charges, prepared
for an attack. During the few days
In ervening he passed Hamilton sew
ersl times on the street, but nothing
passed between them. He had been
told that Hamilton meant TO have rat.
isfaction and that he was being urged
on by bis friends. A day or two be.
fore the murder Col. W. L Nrgent
met Gambrell on the street and told
him that Hamilton did not in
tend to attack him. Nor did
he intend 10 be candidate
for the sapate. Gsmbrell then re.
marked that he would cease his news
paper assaults, and stated to his friends
that the trouble had been smooth cd
over and was .. an end. Neverthsle-s
he held himself in readiness, for his
friends assured him there was plot
against his life, and knowing the willy
foe he had TO deal with, should he be
attacked, he was prepared TO meet
them. a. he thought.
The readers OF the APPEAL are too
recently acquainted with the facls, -
detailed by witnesses, on the night OF
the murder, and II is not necessary TO
recapitulate them. Whether the meet
ing Of Hamilton Aith Gambrell at the
bridge was accidental, or whether
there was q deep-laid conspiracy
by Hamilton and his willing tools TO
aseassinate the youpgimsu, is best an
swered by the decision OF chancellor
Peyton, who heard the writ Of habeas
corpus, aud who, after long and pa.
tent hearing. held Hamilton without
bail, and Eubanks In the sum OF tl5,-
600, and the man Albrecht In the sum
Of 5000. The case Is now bsiore the
courts. An indictment for murder
has been found by the grand Jury.
The deduction from the foregoing
facts, % TO the causes operating and
which led 10 Gsmbrell's death, Ia re-
duced TO this: that Gambrell was
killed because he, az si journalist, In the
discharge OF his duty to the public,
undertook 10 expose the methods OF
Hamilton, as the lessee Of the peni-
Tertiary. How, az such, he had de.
frsuded the people OF the State, and
under bis regime the convicts In the
penitsntiary bad been most brutally
treated and because OF his advocacy
OF the cause Of prohibition.
From an extended inquiry among
the citizens Of Jackson, these two facts
are given az the sole causes Of the en-.
nifty between Hamilton and q am brell,
for all agree there was no personal or
private grievance between them. Ia
other words, Gambrell assumed to crit.
icise the acts Of q public official and
10 advocate questlon OF public and
moral policy; therefore he was killed.
An 10 his manner OF doing 40 and
the severity Of his structures on the
personal character Of the public
official, II must be admitted was repre-
hensible, and had Hamilton sought
satisfaction In q way open and above
board, even 10 the death, the hideeus
aspect OF the care might never have
attained such revolving dimensions.
The recent report OF the Kinds
county grand jury vent far TO confirm
the grave charges Of inhuman treat.
ment toward tue convicts alleged by
Gambrell, aud TO make forever odious
the damn able lease system a. pursued
by the State. The last Legislature
passed q law leasing the convics 10
the Gulf and Ship Island Railway
Company. Hamilton was one OF the
pri cipal directors OF the road, aud OF
course one Of the leseees OF the con.
victs. OF course he has resigned his
position a. such since his confinement
In the iail.
fsTKnvfKws Win rAonisKHT ciTizEss.
Quite . number Of representative
citisens have been interviewed by
your correspondent 40 10 whether
there was q demand for an extra ses
sion OF tbs Legislature 10 obyiate the
cruelties cited at the penitentiary and
as 10 the prime cause OF tho death OF
young Gambrell.
Mr.. 4. Virden, one OF the large dry
goods merchants Of the city, said: ~
see no necessity for an extra tsssi IN
Of the Legislature. The lsw Investing
the management Of the penite ntiary In
q Board vi Conlrol 10 comprehensive
enoogh and II 10 their duty 10 rectify
the abuses. l do not doubt that
the graId Jury report Ia true and the
horrible state Of affairs recited doe.
exist. lam and slways have been op.
posed 10 the leasing system. II should
be abolished, for II 10 a Disgrace 10 the
STATE. Az TO the causes leading 10 the